“After a 360-mile chase, The Sea Shepherd Fleet drove the Japanese whaling fleet’s factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, out of the Antarctic Treaty Zone,” said the group in an emailed statement. “Sea Shepherd has all ships in the Japanese whaling fleet accounted for, and can confirm that the whale poaching fleet is scattered and currently not hunting whales. The harpoon ships are separated by hundreds of miles. The Nisshin Maru is on the run and unable to stop and whale in its self-designated whale-poaching grounds.”

Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd said its fleet of ships has successfully disrupted the annual Japanese whale hunt in the waters off Antarctica.

The whaling vessels fled their hunting grounds less than a day-and-a-half into the hunting season. Sea Shepherd said the fleet has killed four Minke whales so far.

The activist group says its effort to shut down commercial whaling by the Japanese however is far from over.

“We have won this battle, but the war for the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary will wage on over the coming months,” said Adam Meyerson, Captain of The Sam Simon, one of Sea Shepherd’s three ships.

Sea Shepherd is highly controversial for taking direct action against whalers. Japan says the tactics amount to piracy and put lives at risk, but Sea Shepherd maintains that it is merely enforcing anti-poaching laws. For example, Sea Shepherd says that Japan was whaling inside the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, where commercial whaling is prohibited.

But Japan uses a loophole, designating its whale killing in the zone as “scientific research”. A case on the issue is pending in the International Court of Justice, but in the meantime, Sea Shepherd says it “will do what ever it takes to ensure no more whales have to endure pain and suffering at the hands of these whale butchers from Japan.”

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13 Responses to “Japanese whale hunt stopped, for now”

I would like to know why the ban on whale killing is not being enforced to the Japanies who continue to hunt/kill whales. They continue to destroy wildlife, land, air and sea! Is there nothing they will not kill? I have a hard time to respect the Chinese, a race of people who so much put respect in their race., yet have no respect for wildlife of any kind.

I think the brave men and women of the Sea Shepherd and it's fleet are to be commended for the great work they have done. Thanks to Bob Barker our US animal advocate! And to Japan——you MUST STOP KILLING WHALES. WE KNOW IT

[…] "After a 360-mile chase, The Sea Shepherd Fleet drove the Japanese whaling fleet’s factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, out of the Antarctic Treaty Zone," said the (Japanese whale hunt stopped, for now http://t.co/OxM2E8b3lG… […]

WELL, SO IT WOULD SEEM THAT *blnite* DOESN’T LIKE WHALES, VERY MUCH !
WHAT PART OF JAPAN WHALING IN *AUSTRALIAN WHALE SANCTUARY WATERS*, DON’T U UNDERSTAND ?
JUST B/C A JUDGE & COURT IN AMERICA, PLACES A NEGATIVE LABEL ON A GROUP TRYING TO SAVE WHALE’S LIVES, IT DOES NOT *MAKE IT SO* !!!
THE ONLY PERSON WHO WOULD ACTUALLY GO TO JAIL, IF HE SETS FOOT ON US SOIL, IS PAUL !

LET’S STICK TO THE POINT, ; JAPAN IS KILLING WHALES & LYING ABOUT THEIR REASONS FOR DOING SO !
THEY DON’T NEED TO KILL LIVING WHALES TO DO RESEARCH, ; PLENTY OF WHALES DIE, FOR VARIOUS REASONS DURING ANY YR !
DO RESEARCH ON THOSE !
THERE IS NO, ; & PAY ATTENTION TO THIS NX BIT, IT’S VERY IMPORTANT, ;
I REPEAT,
**THERE IS N O HUMANE WAY TO KILL A WHALE** !

A WHALE CAN TAKE UP TO HALF AN HR, OR MORE, TO DIE, AFTER THE HARPOON EXPLODES INSIDE THEIR BELLIES, ; THAT’S ACTUALLY DYING, IN AGONIZING PAIN, SUFFERING, BLEEDING OUT, WHILE HALF UR INSIDES, FLOATS AROUND U IN THE OCEAN !!!

of course , It's time to stop now , many many whales were die in hunting season , end this terrible killing for whales , give them free to the ocean , ban all hunting or killing of our wildlife , thanks

Congratulations for yet AGAIN supporting and enabling an international terrorist organization. The US Federal Court in Seattle ( and the US Coast Guard) have officially labeled this self-appointed vigilante group as ” Pirates”, and are seeking sanctions and arrests of the members and (supporters) of this group, What next? a Fund raiser for ELF ?

[…] "After a 360-mile chase, The Sea Shepherd Fleet drove the Japanese whaling fleet’s factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, out of the Antarctic Treaty Zone," said the (Japanese whale hunt stopped, for now http://t.co/OxM2E8b3lG… […]